Evaluation of memorandum Sea Ports: anchors of the economy (English summary)

The policy actions issuing from the memorandum Sea Ports: anchors of the economy were carried out as agreed  In principle the policy actions achieved the desired results. KiM Netherlands Institute for Transport Policy Analysis reached this conclusion following a comprehensive evaluation of the sea port memorandum. In this memorandum, the Dutch Cabinet presented, in 2004, the sea port policy for the period 2005 to 2010. Subsequent developments in manufacturing and employment, in the Netherlands’ market share, and in the growth of private investment, reveal that the stated aims were achieved.

This report is available in Dutch.

It is seemingly difficult to measure the exact contribution the government made toward achieving these objectives and what effects were due to international developments. Moreover, it is possible that developments occurring on the national, European and global levels, and the activities of other actors, such as the corporate sector, were highly influential. With, in particular, the construction of new infrastructure, the government responded to these international developments.